New Delhi: With heatwaves scorching swathes of India, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has urged the Labour and Employment Ministry to enforce protections for gig and platform workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
In a letter, IFAT proposed paid cooling breaks during India Meteorological Department orange and red alerts, without penalties, ID blocks or incentive cuts for pausing work.
Further demands include mandatory drinking water, oral rehydration salts and cooling shelters, plus in-app emergency alerts and public dashboards to track aggregator compliance.
Delivery riders, ride-hailing drivers and home-service workers face grave health risks in extreme heat without such measures, IFAT warned, citing examples from South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan, the UAE and California's protections for platform staff.
"Heat protection is not a privilege. It is a labour right, a public health necessity, and a matter of dignity," the federation stated.
(Inputs from IANS)